Chapter 416: Human Emperor Seal Appears

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace walked into the mountain villa, looking around in surprise and admiration. "When I accomplish my goals and retire," he remarked, "I too want to find such a beautiful place to enjoy life with my wife and children."

Qin Mu came forward, smiling. "Heavenly King, what brings you here?"

The Imperial Preceptor solemnly replied, "I am not here to see the Cult Master as the Heavenly King of the Heavenly Saint Cult. Instead, I am here as the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace to see the Human Emperor. I seek your assistance!"

Qin Mu's expression immediately became serious. "Imperial Preceptor, please speak!"

The Imperial Preceptor glanced around. "Where is the old Human Emperor? Would he also be willing to join our discussion?"

"The Village Chief is basking in the sun and drinking tea."

They found the Village Chief, who was indeed drinking tea with the Apothecary, surrounded by many women. The women held cups to their lips, so they didn't even need to lift a hand. The Imperial Preceptor's eyelid twitched; among the women was even the Empress Dowager.

He quickly covered his face, pretending not to notice.

He had always been at odds with the Empress Dowager. She had repeatedly opposed him, and it was under his instruction that the Little Poison King, Fu Yuanqing, had poisoned her.

Nevertheless, as a subject, seeing the Empress Dowager serving another man in such a way, he naturally had to avoid impropriety.

The Empress Dowager saw him and sneered, but did not move away.

Seeing this, the Apothecary chuckled. "There are too many worldly affairs here. Let's go somewhere else. I know a place with excellent scenery. Bring your instruments, and we can enjoy ourselves for a while."

The women were overjoyed and left, escorting the Apothecary.

Only then did the Imperial Preceptor lower his sleeve, greet the Village Chief, and wait for Qin Mu to sit before taking his own seat.

"The Eternal Peace Empire has been experiencing continuous strange phenomena, with many divine treasures and hundreds of stone statues appearing. I'm sure this hasn't escaped your notice. I also don't need to explain the dangers involved; both Human Emperors must be well aware."

The Imperial Preceptor got straight to the point. "I am here to ask the Human Emperor to bring out the Human Emperor Seal and command the heroes of the world to conquer the celestial heavens, saving the common people from further suffering!"

The Village Chief looked at him in surprise. "Imperial Preceptor, have you ever been to the celestial heavens?"

The Imperial Preceptor shook his head.

The Village Chief said, "If you had been to the celestial heavens, you wouldn't think this way. I have been there. Back then, I commanded heroes to conquer the celestial heavens, which is why I lost my arms and legs. The celestial heavens are not just home to the Four Celestial Monarchs; there are also other false gods. I almost swept them clean back then, until I encountered a true god, a genuine deity."

His aged face was lined with deep wrinkles, like an old farmer who toiled under the sun, his face etched with the furrows of deeply tilled earth.

"A true god, divine in every aspect."

The Village Chief continued unhurriedly, "My sword art was defeated by his, and he severed my legs and arms. 'Human Emperor? Humph!' That's what he said, and then he threw me out of the celestial heavens."

He glanced at the Imperial Preceptor. "At that time, you must have been just born, unaware of these events. The strong practitioners who went with me to the celestial heavens either died, fled, or dispersed. As the Human Emperor, I was completely defeated, utterly routed. Your current swordsmanship surpasses mine, and your mastery of the sword path is only slightly inferior, but if you go to the celestial heavens, your fate will be the same."

The Imperial Preceptor frowned. "Then, what should be done?"

"Don't go to the celestial heavens; intercept them."

The Village Chief said, "Whoever comes down from the celestial heavens, we kill them. One comes, we kill one. If they all come, we kill them all. You don't need to worry about that true god; for him to descend, he requires sufficient blood and flesh sacrifices."

"In that case..."

The Imperial Preceptor looked at Qin Mu and said in a deep voice, "Would you be willing to bring forth the Human Emperor Seal?"

Qin Mu took out the dark, unassuming great seal. This seal, though unremarkable in appearance, was forged by various clans and sects from their finest treasures, symbolizing the Human Emperor's authority.

Qin Mu raised his eyebrows. Bringing out this great seal meant that he, as the Human Emperor, was stepping from behind the scenes into the forefront, which would bring him many dangers.

Just like the Village Chief back then, becoming the Human Emperor meant risking his life for humanity, and some hidden arrows even came from within humanity itself!

According to the villagers' teachings, he should throw the Human Emperor Seal as far away as possible. However, the villagers also taught him to be responsible and take charge.

Each of the nine elders in the village taught him different things, sometimes contradictory, requiring him to make his own choices and follow his heart.

Qin Mu took a long breath and asked, "Village Chief, how do I use this great seal?"

The Village Chief said, "Pour your vital qi into the seal, and we will lend you a hand."

Following the instruction, Qin Mu channeled his vital qi into the Human Emperor Seal. Within the seal, which resembled a black iron lump, a spirit seemed to be triggered, surging out and feeding back into its master.

Qin Mu's mind immediately rumbled, as if the seal contained countless unyielding strong individuals and indomitable spirits.

His vision blurred, and he seemed to see a group of ragged people approaching him. Behind them were countless common folk—the people of various sects, factions, and races in Eternal Peace, the ancestors of the inhabitants of this land.

Their faces were sallow, marked by the ravages of weather and war, and many were injured or disabled. Their eyes still held sorrow and fear. It was a history of despair, filled with widespread disaster and havoc wrought by gods and devils. It was the Human Emperor who had painstakingly led them out of despair and onto this new land.

They took out their respective treasures, imprinted their spirits within them, melted them down, and forged them into a great seal, which they respectfully presented to this man.

"Whoever holds this seal shall be the Human Emperor!"

Their spiritual fluctuations transformed into a sound that boomed in Qin Mu's mind: "When the Human Emperor Seal appears, none shall dare disobey!"

Qin Mu's mind was deeply stirred. At that moment, the Imperial Preceptor and the Village Chief both unleashed their magic power, activating the Human Emperor Seal. With a hum, the seal floated into the sky, emitting dazzling light!

The indomitable spirits within the seal materialized. Ethereal projections of the patriarchs and emperors who founded sects and nations emerged from the seal, imprinted upon the heavens and earth, their figures majestic.

Waves of terrifying spiritual fluctuations surged in all directions. Those with the same bloodline and heritage would hear the call from their ancestors, summoning them to come.

That was their promise, an eternal vow made by their ancestors, grateful for the Human Emperor's kindness!

When the Human Emperor Seal appears, none shall dare disobey!

The promise their ancestors made twenty thousand years ago, even after two millennia, they still had to honor!

After a moment, the Village Chief and the Imperial Preceptor withdrew their magic power, and Qin Mu also dispersed his vital qi, his mind still reeling.

This was the Human Emperor Seal, a treasure jointly presented to the Human Emperor by various clans and sects. Despite possessing no offensive power, it held immense rallying power!

The Village Chief calmly said, "We will wait here for a few days. Those who should come, will naturally come."

The Imperial Preceptor asked, "May I inquire, how many masters can be expected? Ordinary Divine Bridge realm experts won't be very useful; any number of them would simply be sent to their deaths."

The Village Chief chuckled. "Those who dare to come, and those who can come, will naturally be masters."

The Imperial Preceptor was not reassured. The world's masters were often concentrated in a few sacred lands. Those comparable to them included the old Buddha, the old Dao Master, and the masters from Little Jade Capital. Little Jade Capital remained aloof from worldly affairs, and the old Buddha and old Dao Master had abdicated, so truly few could come.

Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly. "Among the illusions I just saw, it seemed there weren't only humans, but other races as well."

The Imperial Preceptor said, "I also saw many strange races."

The Village Chief said, "The races rescued by the Human Emperor back then were not solely human. Some races relinquished this continent of Eternal Peace and traveled afar to find other territories."

The Imperial Preceptor showed surprise and asked, "Did they go overseas?"

In the East Sea, a colossal island slowly moved through the ocean. A strange race inhabited the island; the men had horns on their heads and lived by fishing, while the women had no horns.

These men leaped into the sea, and with a shift of their bodies, transformed into giant whales, also with spiral horns on their heads. They darted through the water like arrows, and even sea monsters were often no match for them.

Whenever they had a catch, these whales would leap onto the island, transforming back into men upon landing, and carry their catch with both hands toward their villages.

Suddenly, almost everyone on the island sensed an inexplicable bloodline summons, and they all looked up toward the distant mainland.

"The summons of the Human Emperor Seal!"

In the temple at the center of the island, the white-robed elders' hearts stirred, and they quickly said, "Quickly, awaken the Old Ancestor!"

A long, melodious whale cry came from the seabed. The island shook; the entire island was the back of a colossal whale. This giant whale awoke, spouting a water column hundreds of feet high.

In the distance, several more islands floated over; they were also giant whales.

The people and palaces on one island rose into the air, leaving that giant whale to settle on other islands. The giant whale then slowly submerged. A moment later, a bare-chested, long-haired, burly man emerged from the sea, his chest exposed, and stepped onto the island.

Inside the Sea King's Hall, numerous white-robed elders had been waiting. Upon seeing the burly man, they all bowed and said, "King Kun!"

"The promise made by the Kun Clan's ancestors twenty thousand years ago flows in our blood. That promise from two millennia ago is still valid today!"

King Kun looked around and said, "The Human Emperor Seal is calling me. I shall go myself. Bring forth the sacred artifact!"

The many white-robed elders lined up on either side. At the center of the Sea King's Hall altar, a golden spear was embedded—it was a spiral horn.

King Kun offered a sacrifice, then pulled out the long horn. Immediately, towering waves surged around the island as the white-robed elders respectfully sent him off.

King Kun sprinted, holding the golden spear, then flew into the sea, transforming into a long-horned giant whale. He galloped and soared between sea and sky, heading towards Eternal Peace.

King Kun leaped from the waves. Just then, a huge bird, with a wingspan of tens of acres, flew across the sky. The bird saw him, then suddenly spun rapidly, shooting down like an arrow. Countless feathers fluttered, and when it landed before King Kun, it transformed into a woman with bird talons for legs and a hoopoe-like crest made of feathers on her head.

King Kun smiled. "Wing King, you've come too?"

The woman said, "The Human Emperor Seal has summoned us again, calling us to fulfill the promise our distant ancestors made. How could I not come?"

Suddenly, the ocean surged. A colossal, dark turtle-shelled warship burst out from the seabed, leaped above the surface, then crashed back down onto the water, rocking several times before stabilizing.

"Raise the flag!" a voice came from the ship.

*Swish*, a dripping wet flag rose, depicting a turtle and a snake.

In Little Jade Capital, the old Buddha frowned slightly and sighed, "I thought we would have peace, but it seems we must still emerge."

The old Dao Master chuckled. "If we don't emerge, our successors will have to, and wouldn't that be sending them to their deaths? Go on."

The old Buddha nodded, sighed, and rose to leave Little Jade Capital with him.